Golf putter with orientation-adjustable putter shaft

ABSTRACT

The golf putter according to the present invention has a mechanism to fix a putter shaft to a head in an arbitrary orientation relative to the head. Specifically, the head has a circular hole formed on its upper surface to extend at a angle in which the putter shaft is attached to the head and-a screw hole formed on its rear surface that communicates with the circular hole. A lower end portion of the putter shaft is fixed to a columnar member which has a circumferential groove formed on the surface of its leading end portion and fits the circular hole. The putter shaft which has the member inserted into the circular hole can be rotated 360 degrees with respect to the head. The putter shaft is fixed to the head by adjusting the orientation of the putter shaft to a desired orientation relative to the head, and screwing the tightening screw inserted into the screw hole so as to engage its leading end portion with and push it against the groove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a golf putter.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional golf putter has a putter shaft integrally fixed to a head. Therefore, once a user buys a putter, he or she cannot adjust the orientation of the putter shaft relative to the head to change a feeling of grasping the grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf putter which a user can adjust the orientation of a putter shaft relative to a head to a desired orientation.

[0006] A golf putter according to the present invention has a mechanism for fixing the putter shaft to the head with an arbitrary orientation relative to the head.

[0007] Specifically, the head has a circular hole formed on its upper surface, which extends at an angle in which the putter shaft is fixed to the head, and a screw hole on its back surface, which communicates with the circular hole. The putter shaft has its lower-end portion fixed to a columnar member, which has a circumferential groove formed on the surface of its leading end portion and which fits the hole. The putter shaft which has the columnar member inserted into the circular hole can be rotated 360 degrees with respect to the head. The putter shaft is rotated at a desired angle relative to the head, and thereafter the tightening screw inserted into the screw hole is screwed so as to engage its leading end portion with and push it against the circumferential groove of the columnar member, so that the putter shaft is fixed to the head.

[0008] Therefore, the user can adjust the putter shaft to a desired orientation relative to the head and optimize a feeling of grasping the grip.

[0009] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram of a head showing an example fixing mechanism; and

[0012]FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram of a head showing another example fixing mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises putter shaft 1, head 2 attached to the lower end portion of putter shaft 1, and grip 3 fixed to the upper end of putter shaft 1. Grip 3 has, for example, a regular triangle cross section. The shape of grip 3 in cross section may be a circle, an ellipse, or the like. Putter shaft 1 is attached to head 2 at an angle of 66.5 degrees to the horizontal top surface of head 2.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the putter also has tightening screw 9 and columnar sheath member 4, which is integrally fixed to putter shaft 1 by an appropriate means such as a dowel pin, at the lower end portion of putter shaft 1. Sheath member 4 has circumferential groove 5 formed on its outer surface and in the vicinity of its leading end portion. Head 2 has circular hole 6 formed on its upper surface, which extends at angle in which putter shaft 1 is fixed to head 2 and in which sheath member 4 is fitted, and has screw hole 7 formed on its rear surface into which tightening screw 9 is screwed. Screw hole 7 communicates with circular hole 6. Head 2 is provided synthetic resin portion 8 to achieve weight reduction.

[0015] Sheath member 4 is inserted into hole 5 of head 2, and head 2 is oriented to a desired orientation relative to putter shaft 1. Tightening screw 9 is then screwed into screw hole 7 to engage its leading end portion with and push it against circumferential groove 5 of sheath member 4.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, it may also be configured that the rear surface of head 2 is parallel to the center axis line of putter shaft 1, screw hole 7′ is formed at right angles to the center axis line of putter shaft 1, and head 2 and putter shaft 1 are mutually fixed by tightening screw 9′.

[0017] The orientation of head 2 relative to putter shaft 1 can be adjusted to any angle in a range of 0 to 360 degrees by virtue of groove 5 formed on the outer surface of sheath member 4.

[0018] The present invention can also be applied with ease to a conventional putter by adding simple working and preparing a screw or the like.

[0019] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putter comprising: a head; a putter shaft having its lower end portion attached to the head at a predetermined angle relative to the upper surface of the head; a grip fixed to the upper end portion of the putter shaft; and a mechanism for fixing the putter shaft to the head with an arbitrary orientation relative to the head.
 2. The golf putter according to claim 1, wherein said head has a circular hole formed on its upper surface to extend at said predetermined angle and a screw hole formed on its rear surface; and said mechanism comprises a columnar member, which is fixed to the lower end portion of the putter shaft, said columnar member having a circumferential grove formed on the surface of its leading end portion and fitting said circular hole, and a tightening screw which can be screwed into said screw hole and includes a leading end portion engageable with the groove of said the member inserted into the circular hole.
 3. The golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 66.5 degrees. 